Paper-box.



O. T. BLOOMER.

PAPER BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1914.

Patented 0013.27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Attorneys THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. FHDTOLITHOH WASHINGTON 0 c,

' 0. T. BLOOMERV.

PAPER BOX. APPLICATION FILED APR- 24. 1914.

Patented Oct. 27

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Attorneys 0 h 7 m i F, d m

THE NORRIS PETERS co PHOTOLITH L, WASHINGTON D. c.

CHARLES '1. BLOOMER, 0F NEWARK, NEW YORK.

PAPER BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2'7, 1914.

Application filed April 24, 1914. Serial No. 834,171.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. BLOOMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Wayne and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Paper Box, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to paper boxes or receptacles, and aims to provide a novel and improved means for holding closed, the cover or top of the box or container.

The present invention contemplates the provision of simple and inexpensive means whereby the free portion of a swinging cover or lid of a paper box or receptacle, may be fastened in place, when the cover or lid is closed, andwhereby the cover will be held in closed position in a thoroughly efficient and practical, but simple manner.

It is also the object of the present invention, to provide a fastening means of the nature indicated, which will not only be simple, butwhich will not appreciably encumber the box or container, when the cover is fastened inclosed condition, whereby, the box when closed, will present a neat appearance, and whereby it is necessary to mutilate the box, to release the cover, when once closed and fastened, in order that when the box has been filled and closed, the same may not be opened by malicious or unauthorized persons, without the box being so mutilated, as to enable the tampering with the box or its contents to be detected by the purchaser or recipient.

As a more specific object, the present invention has in view, the provision of a metallic tongue or fastener arranged to swing through the cover and into the box, for fastening the cover in closed condition, in connection with means for closing that portion of the cover through which the tongue is bendable, in order that the cover opening, will not present an objectionable appearance, and in order that the tongue or fastener cannot be readily released without mutilating the box or its cover.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made w1th1n 'the scope of what is claimed, without departlng from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying box or receptacle with the cover closed, and

illustrating the tongue or fastener being bent to lock or fasten the cover in closed condition. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the receptacle or box, along the central portion thereof. Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken on the line 4.4c of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail illustrating a modification.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a paper receptacle or container, which may be of any suitable character, and which is illustrated in the form of a rectangular egg box, preferably of foldable or collapsible formation. The back wall of the box or receptacle 1 is provided with a swinging cover or top 2, which is provided at its free portion-with a tuck flap 8 insertible into the box or receptacle against the inner face of.

the front wall of the box, when the cover 2 is closed.

The egg box 1 has disposed therein a cellular rack or filler 1 constituting longitudinal and lateral partitions, as usual, providing the cells or pocketsfor receiving the eggs or other commodities.

The fastening means includes a metallic tongue or fastener 5, which is preferably, although not necessarily, secured to the inner face of the front wall of the box by clenching prongs 6 from the tongue 5 through the front wall of the box. The upper or free end portion of the tongue 5 upstands from the upper edge of the front wall of the box above the cover line'or plane, the tuck flap 3 of the cover 2 being insertible in rear of the tongue 5 when the cover is closed, so as to assume a position between the filler or rack 4 and the front wall of the box and tongue 5.- Thetongue 5 is preferably disposed midway between the ends of the box, although not necessarily so.

The cover 2 of the box is provided with tongue-receiving means, and to this end, the

cover is provided with an H -sh'a-ped slit or 5 slit 7 are preferably parallel with the fold line of the flap 3, one longitudinal portion preferably lying in the fold line of the said flap. The slit- 7 'pl' ovidesopposed flexible tabs 8, which project toward each other i i adjacent the flap 3, and which when they are bent outof the plane ofthe' cover 2; provide an opening in the cover 2 adjacent the-flap 3 for the reception or passage ofthe free por'-= tion of the tongue 5.

As a means for limiting the downward movement 0t thetabs' 8, when the cover 2- is closed,'and for assistingin causingthe tabs 8 to assume their normalclosed" positions, the v outermost- 'longitud-inal partitions '9 of the filler or rack 4t, and'thegcentral -or median latera l or cross partition 10 are provided with -complementing;cut away portions or'notches 1-1 and ll 'a-tthe upper and lower edges.

form being employed, as desired, it being notedthat one set of the coo-pera-tingcut away portions or notches 1 1 .or 1l .will

always be disposed adjacent the tongue or .fastener 5 notwithstanding. the fact that the filler orrack might be inserted with either side up,g or inreversed longitudinal positions. However,when the-raclror filler 4- is disposedwi-thin the box I, only oneset of cut a way portions or notches 11 are opera- .tive or employed, it being desirable, however, to provide the several sets 01% notches 11 or 11 in order toeli'minate the accurate placing of the rack or filler-within the box.

In use, afterthe boxhas been filled, and when it is desired to close the same, the cover 2 is folded over the mouth of the box, and the-flap 3 is tucked between the front wall of the box and therack or tiller 4, the flap;

453 passing in back of the tongue 5, in order that the upper or free end of the tongue will project above the cover when it is closed. It is then aneasy matter to lock or fasten-the tree portion of thec'over 2 in place,byapplying the finger to the outer side of the free-- portion of the tongue 5 and bending the tree portion of thetongue over theupper or basal edge of the flap 3 and thence downwar'dly against and between the tabs 8, as seen in F 2. "When the tongue 5 isbent downwardly within the opening formed by the slit? and tabs 8, the-tabsS will yieldor flex downwardly to permit of the passage of the-free portion of thetongue 5 beyond the tabs and against the inner face of the flap 3, as seen inFig. 8,'to hold-tlrezfiap 3' in place, and to thereby hold the cover 2 in closed position. When "the tree portion of thej tongue 5 has been bent or clamped against the inner face of the flap 3, and

The longitud-i'i'i'al portionsof the I The cut-away 1 portions or= notches 11 and 11 are modifications, either a certain degree.

" whenthe finger hasbeen withdrawn, the tabs 8,:but which will assist in returning the tabs 8 to normal or initial position.

of the partition 9 adj acent thetongue, adj a centthe! cutaway portions or-notches"11', willyieldslightly to enable the tabs 8 to be The cutaway portions 11 are pref-erablyfsuch,that vwhen thetabsS are depressed, the portions limit the downward movement of the ta'bs depressed sufiiciently for the passage of the the-tongue hasbeenproperly bent asseen Fig. 3, and the finger withdrawn, the tabs -8 will be thrown back to restore them-to their closed positions.

tree portion of the tongue 5, whereby when- Although the two tabs 8 areintended-to' bend: simultaneously for thepassage-of the tongue therebetween, it will be apparent that-either ofthe tabs may bend by itselt to this end-t v It is to be observed that the tabs 8 areopened by the same pressure of the finger f thatis employed for bending the tongue 5 into engagement with the cover, the opera-- tion'bein-g a simple and expeditioris one.

- l/Vhen the tongue 5 has been bent properly,

to hold the cover clcsed,"and when the tabs 8 resume their normal-closedposition, the free portion of the tongue 5 will be protected by the tabs 8, to prevent or impede the prying up or unbending of the I tongue, without mutilating .the tabs 8; or the adjacentportions of the cover or trontwalll ot' the box-.

Should a maliciously inclined person at:-

tempt to release the tongue 5, after thesame" has been bent to lock the cover, it-would be necessary to depress the tabs 8 eXcessively,-to

furthermore, due to the fact that the-downward movement of the tabs 8 is limited,

ready access to the free end of the tongue cannot be hadwithout mutilating the tabs 8 or other parts of thebox. I

It will of course be understood that the fastening means may be utilized for holding 'thecove-r 2 closed, withoutthe assistance of the filler or rack 4, the tabs 8 tending to retheir normal condition, unless bent-beyond The employment of the fasten-mg means in connection wlthan egg box is particularly advantageous, inasmuch asthe filler or rack is employed in a unique manner in connection with the fastening-- means,-forlnn1t1ng the-movement of thetabs 8 and for assistingin' returning. the-tabs to normal condition, aswell as preventing the prying up or unbending of the tongue, as will be obvious from the foregoing explanation.

After the box has once been closed and the cover fastened, it is a difficult, if not impossible matter for an unauthorized or malicious person to open the cover, to tamper with or to substitute the contents of the box, Without so mutilating the tabs 8, or other parts, as to cause the tampering to be detected by the purchaser or recipient of the box of eggs or the like. The advantages of this feature are obvious, it being noted that with the box as illustrated, fresh eggs may be boxed with the assurance that the eggs cannot be replaced by storage eggs, Without the substitution being detected due to the mutilation of the box.

To open the box or package readily, it is preferable to slip one finger along the inside of the box between the front wall of the box and the cover flap near one end of the box, and then moving the finger toward the center of the box, so as to tear the front wall of the box loose from the tongue 5, which will allow the cover to be readily opened, carrying with it, the tongue 5. This also assures the destruction of the box for further use, as far as the fastening means is concerned.

The numerous advantages and capabilities of the present invention will be obvious to those versed in the art, without further or extensive comment being necessary, it being noted that the objects aimed at have been carried out satisfactorily by the pro-vision of the peculiar structure herein disclosed.

In the variation illustrated in Fig. 5, the cover 2 is provided adjacent the flap 3 with an arcuate slot 7 forming a semi-circular tab 8 adapted to be bent inwardly with the tongue 5. This form is of advantage in a number of respects, as .will be obvious from the foregoing.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Abox having a cover, a bendable tongue carried by one wall of the box, the cover having a tab adjacent the said wall forming an opening through which the tongue, is adapted to be bent to hold the cover closed, the tab being flexible to permit of the passage of the tongue through the said opening and to then close the said opening to impede the unbending of the tongue.

2. Abox having a cover, a bendable tongue carried by one wall of the box, the cover hav ing a pair of opposed tabs adjacent the said wall forming an opening through which the tongue is adapted to be bent between the tabs to hold the cover closed, the tabs being flexible to permit of the passage of the tongue therebetween and to then close the said opening to impede the unbending of the tongue.

3. Abox having a cover, a bendable tongue secured to one wall of the box, the cover having an opening adjacent the said wall through which the tongue is adapted to be bent to hold the cover closed, and means for closing the said opening after the tongue is passed therethrough to impede the unbending of the tongue.

4. Abox having a cover, a bendable tongue carried by one wall of the box, the cover having a tab adjacent the said wall forming an opening through which the tongue is adapted to be bent to hold the cover closed, the tab being flexible to permit of the passage of the tongue through the said opening and to close the said opening to impede the unbending of the tongue, and means within the box for limiting the movement of the said tab and for assisting in returning the same to normal position for closing the said opening.

5. A box having a cover, a bendable tongue carried by one wall of the box, the cover having a tabadjacent the said wall forming an opening through which the tongue is adapted to be bent to hold the cover closed, the tab being flexible to permit of the passage of the tongue through the said opening and to close the said opening to impede the unbending of the tongue, and a filler within the box having a cut away portion for receiving the said tab to limit the movement of the said tab and to assist in returning the tab to normal position for closing the said opening.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES T. BLOOMER.

Witnesses Lnwis A. GILBERT, JOSEPH GILBERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtainad for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

